JERUSALEM, Israel - Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu advised the Palestinian Authority to drop its demand for the "right of return" for descendants of Arab refugees who left he country during the 1948 War of Independence.

In remarks at the nation's memorial to Theodore Herzl, the prime minister said the PA's demand is tantamount to calling for the destruction of the Jewish state.

"They must once and for all give up the demand to resettle the descendents of the refugees inside of Israel and to take over Israel's territory piecemeal after obtaining a peace treaty," Netanyahu said. "As soon as that is stated, a huge window to peace will be opened," the prime minister said.

"The key to peace lies in explicit and unequivocal recognition of the Jewish state on the part of the Palestinians," he explained.

"I yearn for the day," the prime minister said, "when the Palestinian leaders face their people and say these clear words: 'We have had enough of this conflict. We, the Palestinians, recognize the right of the Jewish people to a country of its own on the Land. We will live beside you in peace,'" he said.